Authors:
- Professor Eimear Muir-Cochrane
- Patricia Barkway
- Debra Nizette
Book Review
Mosby’s Pocketbook of Mental Health is written by three expert Australian mental health nurse educators. This short introductory text is packed full of need-to-know information on mental health. It covers the everything from from mental state assessment, to relevant law and ethical issues, the pharmacological management of mental illness, and how to manage psychiatric emergencies.
The book is extremely well presented. The text is compact, using a succinct bullet-point form structure, yet covers all the important topics without going into excessive detail. The tables and boxes in each chapter are clear and concise. A useful feature are the ‘Do’s and Dont’s’ boxes in each chapter, which highlight excellent pearls and pitfalls in the management of the mental health patient. Each section of the book is well referenced with current evidenced-based guidelines and research, and even includes useful web resources, so the inquisitive reader will not be disappointed.
Key features of this book include:
- Bullet point layout for easy readability
- Clear, concise presentation of information
- Pocket-book sized to be taken on clinical rotation
- Case studies derived from a clinical setting to assist the reader link theory and practice
- Figures and tables to clearly communicate current trends within the mental health sector
- Multidisciplinary approach to illustrate the breadth and context of mental issues
- Provides a framework for informative clinical decisions
I think this book promises to be a valuable resource for clinicians who are not experts in mental illness, but have day-to-day involvement with mental health patients. The book brings the reader up-to-date with current concepts and research, will help improve the reader’s mental health assessment skills, and broaden one’s knowledge of psychiatric medications. All of this in 170 pages makes for a high yield couple of hours reading. Readers looking for an introduction to mental health practice, or a brief up-to-date and practical review of the field, will not be disappointed by Mosby’s Pocketbook of Mental Health.
Disclaimer
- A review copy of the text was provided by the publishers, Elsevier.
About Kane Guthrie
